Abstract

The modernization of Korean theatre began at the turn of the 20th century with the reception of Western theatre. In particular, the establishment of plays originated from the transfer of Western plays since no play format existed in Korea. The 1910s signified the beginning of the acceptance of Western culture via Japan. In the 1920s, the introduction of Western plays began in earnest through the contribution of Korean students in Tokyo. Compared to the second-hand translations in the 1920s, the plays in the 1930s were directly translated from their original language. Plus, most translations were of a complete play, not an abbreviated or a partial translated version. In the 1930s, translated plays widespread realistic drama and contributed to the establishment of realistic Western-style theatre in Korea. By country, British dramas, which was based on Irish dramas, were the most introduced, with about 60 plays, due to Ireland’s similar colonial situation to Korea. Next, there were over 40 Russian dramas, and French and German plays were respectively about 20 each. Meanwhile, about 10 American dramas were also introduced mainly in the 1930s, and Ibsen was introduced as a representative of Northern Europe. Translated dramas set a model for Korean playwrights to follow. Modern Korean playwrights came into being roughly around the 1920s. Students’ amateur groups in the 1920s and the Dramatic Art Research Society of the 1930s played major roles to produce these translated Western plays. In short, translated Western plays during the colonial era sparked the development of Korean modern plays.